Ivan Haigh, an oceanographer with more than 25 years of experience in coastal science, has joined the University of Central Florida (UCF) as the new director of the National Center for Integrated Coastal Research (UCF Coastal). He will also serve as a professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering.
Haigh, who grew up in Zambia, developed an early interest in the ocean during family trips to South Africa. He later pursued his studies at the University of Southampton in England, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in oceanography and completed doctoral and postdoctoral work. Haigh has worked on coastal projects worldwide, including mapping flood risks in Vietnam’s Mekong River Delta and developing flood management strategies for London through the Thames Estuary 2100 Plan. He has also collaborated with government agencies in the U.K., U.S., and Netherlands on storm surge barrier research.
At UCF Coastal, Haigh aims to strengthen interdisciplinary research and community engagement to address challenges such as sea-level rise, storm impacts, habitat loss, and coastal resilience. “UCF’s strong interdisciplinary approach and commitment to community engagement perfectly match my belief that science should have real-world impact,” Haigh said. “I’m thrilled to bring my experience to this new chapter, helping to drive innovative coastal research and resilience in a region that feels surprisingly like home — with a climate much closer to Zambia than the chilly English winters that I won’t miss.”
Haigh envisions UCF Coastal as a center that connects disciplines such as engineering, environmental science, social science, conservation, public policy, community planning, and emergency management. “By fostering collaboration across [several] fields, the center will develop holistic strategies to address the complex and interconnected issues of sea-level rise, storm impacts, habitat loss and coastal resilience,” he said.
He also plans to support student involvement through hands-on research opportunities, mentorships, and new student-led initiatives. Haigh will develop a course on coastal science and resilience to be taught during his second year at UCF.
Haigh expressed gratitude for the welcome he has received from the UCF community and looks forward to working with colleagues and students. “As I embark on this exciting new chapter, I’m eager to work alongside such talented and passionate colleagues and students, united by a shared mission to advance coastal science and build resilient communities,” he said. “Together, I’m confident we can make a lasting, meaningful impact that reaches far beyond our shores.”
Haigh acknowledged that leaving the University of Southampton was difficult due to strong professional and personal ties but felt that leading UCF Coastal was an opportunity he could not pass up. “Leaving was not an easy choice; Southampton holds deep professional and personal connections for me,” he said. “But the chance to lead UCF Coastal was too exciting to pass up.”
